For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Claudia Gunter, (646) 839-6479, cgunter@itdp.org
Enrique Peñalosa Elected President of Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
Renowned Urbanist, Former Mayor of Bogotá, Will Lead Organization Entering 25th Year
New York, NY- Enrique Peñalosa, renowned urbanist and former Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, has been appointed President of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP). Michael Replogle, current President and co-founder of ITDP, is stepping down to serve as the organization’s Global Policy Director.
“Enrique has really been a leading pioneer in many of the issues that we work in. And not only does he have great vision for what cities can be, but he also has the experience of making that vision a reality, as he did while mayor of Bogotá,” said Walter Hook, executive director of ITDP.
Mr. Peñalosa assumes leadership of ITDP’s board at a significant juncture. Next year, ITDP will celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary with an ambitious series of programming and publications designed to attract and engage new audiences. Under Mr. Penalosa’s leadership, ITDP will continue to be a leading resource for information on best practices in sustainable transport.
“ITDP is a recognized leader in the field of sustainable transportation – that is, making cities more livable, socially equitable, environmentally sound and efficient through transit, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. I hope to contribute to ITDP’s effectiveness in making better cities through the world,” said Mr. Peñalosa.
During his tenure as Mayor, Mr. Peñalosa created TransMilenio, a bus rapid transit (BRT) system that is regarded as the world’s best for its capacity, speed and cost efficiency. A similar system in Curitiba, Brazil, was its inspiration. TransMilenio was the subject of a July 9, 2009, article in The New York Times, “Buses May Aid Climate Battle in Poor Cities”
An accomplished public official, economist and administrator, Mr. Peñalosa served as mayor from 1998 to 2001. Mr. Peñalosa helped develop a model for urban improvement based on all people having equal access to quality transportation, education and public spaces. During his tenure, Mr. Peñalosa was responsible for numerous initiatives to make the city more pedestrian-friendly, including building hundreds of kilometers of protected bicycle paths, pedestrian-and-bicycle-only promenades, greenways and parks.
Mr. Peñalosa is a 2009 recipient of the Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development; past Award recipients of the prestigious award include Al Gore. He received the Stockholm Challenge Award for organizing a Car-Free Day in 2000, banning car use throughout the entire city for one weekday in the year. He also removed 40% of cars during regular peak hours as part of a license plate restriction program. Mr. Peñalosa’s work and ideas have been featured in many international media including The New York Times, Financial Times, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, BBC World, PBS, and others.
About ITDP
Founded in 1985, ITDP is a not-for-profit organization that is a leader in promoting environmentally sustainable and socially equitable transportation worldwide.
ITDP works with municipalities and non-governmental organizations in developing countries to implement projects that demonstrate how greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and traffic accidents can be reduced, or how the basic mobility of the poor can be improved. ITDP focuses primarily on developing bus rapid transit (BRT) systems, strengthening the bicycle and rickshaw industries, and planning facilities for bicycles and pedestrians. Emerging programs include traffic demand management (TDM), transport for healthcare access and service delivery, and revitalization of city centers.
Headquartered in New York City, ITDP has regional offices in India, Indonesia, China, Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal, South Africa, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil. Visit ITDP online at https://www.itdp.org